PREFIXES AND SUFFIXES. 



As so many names have the same endings, it has been thought 

 best to explain the principal ones first in a special list, and thus save 

 much repetition. These endings will be referred to in connection 

 with the names by the numbers under which they are given. 



i. "H6ya," diminutive ending (the same as the German "chen" 

 or "lein"), as in A^mihoya, Little Buried One. 



2. "Tiwa." This peculiar verbal ending, which is attached to 

 so many proper names, I have not yet been able to classify to my 

 full satisfaction in the long list of H6pi verb-forms. It seems to be 

 a form in the passive and medium voice, and, as far as I have ob- 

 served, is used mostly in the plural number only. It denotes a com- 

 pleted state or condition, as: "Yep bastiwa," from baslawu, hoe, 

 or make field, the meaning expressed being, here (yep) hoeing, or 

 field making has been done. "Bantiwa," from "bana," write, draw, 

 figure, means has been written or figured, or writing, figuring, draw- 

 ing, has been done. But, although the word has a plural form 

 ("tiwya"), the singular form is almost invariably used, whether one 

 or many objects are referred to. 



3. "Niwa." My informants on this ending differ. According to 

 some, it has the same significance as the former ending, tiwa, the t 

 and n being used in different words for euphony's sake. According 

 to others it would be an ending in the active voice, so that, for in- 

 stance, the word "hongniwa" would not mean being raised, or 

 erected, but raised or erected, in which case it would be a rare form 

 in the perfect tense, used almost exclusively in proper names only. 

 When asking the H6pi which of the two a certain name, which I 

 submitted, did mean, I was usually told that it might mean both, 

 and as they had no means of knowing just what the Name Giver had 

 in mind, they could not tell. But for various reasons I infer that it is 

 identical with "tiwa," and will be so treated in this paper. 



4. " Ka." A peculiar participle ending denoting "the one that." 

 Used as an ending in many female names. 



5. "Noma." Perfect of "Nonoma," cover up, wrap up, fold 

 over, envelope, etc. 



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